Chemical Spill At Borden Dairy In Winter Haven: Police

WINTER HAVEN, FL — Employees were evacuated from a building in Winter Haven on Wednesday morning due to a chemical spill, a Winter Haven Police Department news release said.

The Winter Haven Fire and Polk County Hazardous Material teams tested the chemical on site, and the results show it to be a combination of sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochloride, sodium polyacrylate, nitric acid and phosphoric acid.

The spill formed a cloud of gas that caused one employee to begin to feel ill, said fire officials.

The incident occurred at 5:40 a.m., on Wednesday morning, police said.

Authorities said one employee was exposed to the chemical, and they refused medical treatment. There were no other injuries reported.

Police said the public at large was not in danger, and there were no evacuations in the surrounding area.

"I cannot be more proud of the professionalism of our team working together with Polk County to ensure the safety of Borden employees and the citizens of our community," said public safety director Charlie Bird said in a news release. "We have great partnerships across our county and the dedication to the safety of our citizens is priority one," said Bird.

Winter Haven Fire officials checked the building for further leaks, and did not find any. Fire officials also shut off the known leak causing the chemical speak.

Authorities said the scene has been cleared.